Chapter 1

"Amberlee, get up for school! Just because it's your birthday, doesn't mean you get to miss school!" My mother teased as she lovingly tossed my hair and kissed my forehead. "Happy 12th birthday my beautiful daughter."

"Thanks mom." I replied stretching and brushing my hair out of my face. I got up and dressed and headed downstairs to what i knew would be all of my favourite breakfast foods. My mom loved to cook and every year my birthday was filled with nothing but my favourite foods. Tonight there would be a wonderful birthday dinner and after, the worlds most delicious chocolate cake. Just thinking about it made my mouth water.

I walked past the full length mirror in the hall, stopping long enough to notice I was finally starting to develop a chest. Finally! I thought to myself . All the other girls in my class had started developing months ago and they had started teasing me for being so flat. Never mind that I was taller and leaner and far more active then they were.. at 5 foot 7 I was thin and fit, I couldn't control when my body decided to blossom! Blossom that was moms word for it! Seeing the small bumps forming gave me such a sense of joy, I skipped into the kitchen wearing an ear to ear grin.

"Do you feel any different now that your 12?" Dad asked as I skipped into the room.

"ummhmm," I mumbled as I crammed a piece of bacon into my mouth, "I am finally getting boobs, it's like they were waiting for today!"

Dad chuckled and went back to reading his paper. Soon enough I am going to be beating boys off that girl he thought to himself.

To say that Amberlee was a beautiful girl was like saying the sun was bright; it barely scratched the surface of reality. Amberlee was tall and although she was thin, she was fit and active and had well developed muscles thanks to all the sports she was involved in. She had beautiful long, honey blonde hair and the most beautiful bright blue eyes that made you think of the ocean. Her fair skin was silky smooth and completely free of blemish despite her entering into puberty. But beyond that she was good. She was kind and compassionate and was never to busy to help a friend. She was smart and thoughtful and her dad only hoped life brought her everything she deserved. The thought of anyone ever causing her harm made his blood boil and he knew he would stop at nothing to make that person pay.

I,  could almost  read dads concern, so I got up and walked over to him. I plopped into his lap and gave him a big hug. "I love you so much dad, you know that right?"

"Of course I know that! You know how much I love you right?" Dad said in return; this was our thing, mom showed her love through baking and forehead kisses and dad, well dad was hugs and worried thoughts, dad watched and worried while making sure I always knew I was loved.

I returned to my spot at the table and ate every last bite of the delicious birthday breakfast my mom had made especially for me. The clock struck 8 and my head whipped up; "oh no I have to run or I am going to be late! Thank you for the wonderful breakfast mom! Love you!" With that I ran out the front door grabbing my school bag as I ran.

School passed by so slowly that day, I felt as though time was going in reverse it was going so slowly. It wasn't a bad day or anything, my friends all wished me happy birthday and Blake even gave me a second look when I passed him in the hall at lunch, but I was so excited for tonight that I just wanted the school day to end. 

Finally the bell rang and me and my best friend Ashley started walking home together. "Are you excited for tonight?" Ashley asked as though she didn't know. Ashley would never admit it but she was secretly a bit jealous about how much attention my family gave me on my birthday every year. Tonight there would be a huge dinner and the most mouthwatering cake, followed by so many presents it would take me an hour to open them all. All of my friends were invited of course and my parents were so kind to them all, but Ashley's mom was a single mom who could barely afford a to buy a cake and a gift let alone throw a bash every year like I got. 

"I am!" I gushed barely able to contain my excitement. "Mom says 12 is a special year for the women in our family and that this will be the best birthday yet!" I caught the look of sadness that flashed across my friends face before she hid it and forced a smile. "Hey! You turn 12 next week! I will only be older than you for 7 days!" I knew the real reason my friend was sad, but didn't want to rub her nose in it either. Ashley didn't know it but I had planned a surprise party for her. I had been saving my allowance and doing extra chores and even saved all of my babysitting money for the past month to throw her the best party ever and even bought her a present...a necklace that had a charm that you broke it in half and each of us kept a half.. the lady at the store said it was perfect for best friends and I could barely wait to give it to her next week.

"Oh I know, just can't believe you are going to be older than me for a whole week!" Ashley went along with my reasoning. She knew how much I cared for her knew I did everything I could to make her feel loved. It wasn't my fault that Ashley's dad died... it was no ones fault.. cancer didn't care that Ashley loved and needed her dad. "Anyway! I should get home and get ready! Don't wanna be late to the party of the year." Ashley teased. Ashley gave me a giant hug and took of running down the street towards her house.

I ran home and burst through the front door. I seemed to have walked in on my parents arguing, which was weird because they never argued. They both pulled themselves together and tried to change the mood.

"hey birthday girl! How was school?" Dad asked coming up and scoping me into a big hug.

"Umm, it was okay.... is everything okay here?" I asked nervously. 

"well of course it is sweetheart!" Mom cooed, casting dad a look before coming over a kissing my forehead, "why wouldn't it be?"

"Your moms really outdone herself this year!"Dad said quickly. "Pizza, mozzarella sticks, chips and dip, cake, and so much more.."

 I watched them both nervously, i had never seen them like this before... ever. I had heard of people fighting, i wasn't two! But no matter how hard i tried i could never in my life remember my parents ever saying a mean or angry word to each other.. i wondered what had happened to cause them to argue? 

"Don't you think you better run up and get ready before guests start arriving?" Dad asked. I could tell that he was trying to distract me, and something told me they had been arguing about something big, but it was my birthday and i knew people would be here soon. Whatever it was would have to wait. 

I ran up the stairs into my room, where i found the most beautiful cream coloured dress layers out on her bed. I went to run down the stairs and thank my parents, but stopped at the top of the stairs when i heard them whispering.

"Diana, she has the right to know!"Dad pleaded, "would you rather her find out from someone else?"

"Of course not!" Mom sounded like she had been slapped "I know we have to tell her... just not yet! Please? I am not ready! She's not ready!"

Just then the doorbell rang and mom went to let the first guest in. Dad walked into another room and I knew that was the end of it for now.. what do I need to know? I thought to myself, have I done something wrong? Did I fail a test or something? I couldn't understand what was so bad that my parents couldn't tell me. The more I thought about it the more frustrated it made me and before I knew it I found I was getting a throbbing in my head. 

"Amberlee, your guests are arriving; are you almost ready?" Mom sang up to me sweetly.

I knew there was nothing I could do for now so I tried to push it out of my mind for now. I got dressed and brushed my hair. I put on a tiny bit of my perfume that aunt penny had sent me for Christmas last year and prepared to head down to meet my guests.